Mean Effort

Average effort throughout the entire activity, combining distance and elevation gain. Formula Mean Effort = (Total distance in km + Total ascent ÷ 100) ÷ timer time in hours How it works Uses total distance and ascent from activity start Calculates total effort (distance + elevation equivalent) Divides by elapsed time to get average effort rate in km/h Provides overall session effort intensity Resets at activity start, accumulates throughout session Scientific Background This data field calculates mean effort based on established exercise physiology principles: 1:10 elevation ratio: 100m elevation gain ≈ 1km flat distance effort Total effort approach: Combines distance and elevation into equivalent kilometers Metabolic basis: Studies show similar energy costs for climbing vs. flat distance Session averaging: Provides overall intensity metric for performance analysis According to research by Scarf (2007) and subsequent grade-adjusted pace studies, the energy expenditure for vertical climbing is approximately 10 times that of horizontal movement. This field calculates the session-wide average effort rate by first computing total effort (distance + elevation equivalent) then dividing by time to get a meaningful km/h rate. Mountain running studies show that athletes can maintain relatively consistent effort rates when expressed as this combined metric, making it valuable for training analysis and pacing strategies. References: Scarf (2007). "Analysis of hill runners performance data" Exercise physiology research on climbing vs. flat running energy costs Grade-adjusted pace calculation methodologies Mountain running performance and training analysis studies Usage Ideal for endurance training analysis, performance comparison across different terrains, and understanding overall session intensity. Useful for training load quantification and performance trending over time. Tracking your progress? If MeanEffort helps you analyze your training and compare performances across different routes, consider buying me a coffee! Your support enables continued development and ensures compatibility with new Garmin devices. PayPal: [email protected] Have ideas to make MeanEffort even more useful for your training? I'd love to hear them! Send your suggestions with your coffee tip or use "Contact Developer" - whether it's new metrics, display options, or analysis features, your feedback shapes the future of this data field. Train smarter with better data!

Correted bug in the formula thanks to the testing and repporting of András!